*EXPIRED* Journeys Rediscovered – Culinary Journey of Ethiopia
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Culinary Immersion Tour Unique to Journeys Rediscovered
Culinary Journey of Ethiopia
Small Group Journey of no more than 8 people
Addis Ababa – Lalibela – Gondar – Hawassa – Arbaminch – Konso – Addis Ababa
11 days/ 10 nights
- 2 nights accommodation in Addis Ababa – Denver Boutique Hotel
- 2 nights accommodation in Lalibela – Mariebela Hotel
- 1 night accommodation in Gondar – Goha Hotel
- 1 night accommodation in Hawassa – Haile Resort
- 2 nights accommodation in Arbaminch – Haile Arbaminch Resort
- 1 night accommodation in Konso – Kanta Lodge
- 1 night accommodation in Addis Ababa – Denver Boutique Hotel
- Breakfast daily at hotels
- Other meals & tastings included as per itinerary at specially selected restaurants and culinary experiences
- Transportation and transfers as listed
- All activities included as per itinerary
- Domestic flights as per itinerary
- Entrance fees
- Sightseeing and touring with a local English speaking guide
Contact Journeys Rediscovered on 0477002235 for pricing to suit your preferred departure dates as a private itinerary or REGISTER for our 2022 or 2023 Small Group Journeys (no more the 8 passengers).
Boutique Hotel Twin Share. Single Supplements available.
More Information
Contact Journeys Rediscovered for pricing to suit your preferred departure dates as a private itinerary or to REGISTER for our 2022 or 2023 Small Group Journeys (no more the 8 passengers).
Boutique Hotel Twin Share. Single Supplements available.
Day 1 – Addis Ababa: Welcome to Ethiopia! Upon arrival in Addis, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Depending on your arrival time today, for those who arrive prior to dinner, this evening, you will be taken to Kategna Restaurant where you can taste different kinds of Ethiopian dishes. A meal here, will let you experience the Ethiopian way of life, where dining is characterised by sharing food from a common plate, signifying the bonds of loyalty, family, love and friendship. The dishes are prepared with a variety of unique spices, which lend an unforgettable outstanding aspect to its out of the ordinary cuisine.
Meals included –D
Day 2 – Addis Ababa: Contrary to many people’s expectations, Ethiopia offers wide varieties of delicious meals. Today, we set out for Merkato which is the largest outdoor market in the entire African continent. We start with visiting the vegetable section of the market and buying important ingredients for our food preparation session later. Our next stop in the market, is the interesting Spice Market where we pick our necessary and unique spices up. The final part of the market visit, will be visiting the dairy products section. One of the most common ingredients added to many Ethiopian meals is “NitreKibe”, a clarified butter infused with ginger, garlic and several spices. You will the drive to a local family’s home where there will be a guided preparation of a typical Ethiopian meal – Injera. Made from a grain known as “teff”, which is ground into flour, mixed with water and yeast for slight fe rmentation, and baked on a big round pan after the dough is kept at least for three days. Teff is a gluten free grain which is more fibre - rich and nutritious than any other grain containing protein, fat, carbohydrates, iron, and calcium. With the local family, you will learn to bake injera as locals do, make traditional stew and taste your creation! Ethiopian food is typically various spicy stews made from different meats or legumes. Shiro is a staple vegetarian dish here served with Injera. It is basically made from ground dried chickpeas and various spices.
For dinner this evening, you will be driven to a local Kitfo (traditional mincemeat similar to steak tar tar) place. The most adventurous and unique dish in Ethiopia’s arsenal of delicious foods is kitfo. This is Ethiopia’s signature raw meat dish and for any foreigner wanting to eat like a local, it’s a must.
Meals included –B L D
Day 3 – Addis Ababa/ Lalibela: Your day starts with breakfast and a transfer to the airport for your flight to the medieval town of Lalibela. Enjoy lunch after we tour the first group of rock hewn churches and then enjoy a honey wine tasting at a local bar. Head back to the market to buy some of the abundant produce for our cooking class. We will prepare local dishes to enjoy for our evening meal with a local family. You will also experience a typical Ethiopian coffee ceremony. In Ethiopia, the coffee ceremony is much more than sipping a good cup of Joe. It is an important cultural ritual that’s been passed from generation to generation in the country where it is believed to be the birthplace of coffee. Fresh coffee beans are washed then roasted over fire. After grinding the roasted coffee, it is then boiled in water on Jebena that is a traditional Ethiopian coffee boiling pot. Once boiled, you can’t drink it right away, it has to be left away from the fire and rest a bit until the coffee powder settles to the bottomso you are not going to swallow the small pieces. After a minute it is ready to be consumed.
Meals included –B L D
Day 4 – Lalibela: In the morning, visit the second group of the churches representing the heavenly Jerusalem. In this group are the Bete Gabriel & Raphael, Bete Merquorios, Bete Emmanuel, and Bete Abba Libanos. Finally, visit the most interesting cross-shaped church of Bete Giorgis (St. George), which is said to be the symbolisation of Noah’s ark. The cruciform-shaped Bete Giorgis is the most perfect and beautiful church here; its interior is dominated by depictions of Saint George killing the dragon. In the afternoon, head to one of the rural villages where you will spend time with a local farmer. Communities around Lalibela farm in the age-old way with ox-drawn ploughs.
Meals included –B L D
Day 5 – Lalibela/ Gondar: In the morning, you will fly to Gondar. Spend some time exploring the Royal Enclosure and its buildings. The fortress, which is surrounded by a 300-foot-long wall, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The oldest and most impressive structure in the compound is the two-story palace of Emperor Fasilidas, built of solid basalt stones.
Other royal buildings of interest include the library of Emperor Yohannes I, the House of Song where royal ceremonies took place, the elegant reception and banquet hall of Emperor Bakaffa, and the palace of the king's wife. You will also visit the nearby bath of King Fasiledes, where modern-day Timkat ceremonies are performed.
Then you will dine at the best place in Gondar for both food and atmosphere, the Four Sisters Restaurant. They have brilliant traditional food in a lovely leafy setting with stone walls and Debre Berhan Selassie inspired paintings and nightly traditional music and dance.
Meals included –B L D
Day 6 – Gondar/ Addis Ababa/ Hawassa: Fly back to Addis and start driving to Hawassa (approx 5 hours). On arrival, the remainder of the day is yours at leisure. Hawassa is a city in the Great Rift Valley of central Ethiopia. It lies at the eastern edge of large Lake Awasa, with its resident hippos.
Meals included –B L D
Day 7 – Hawassa/ Arbaminch: In the morning, you will drive to the shore of Lake Hawassa to visit the fish market. This market is a nice spot to see how locals eat fried and raw fresh catches of fish for breakfast. They also sell freshly made fish soup. You can also find several water birds. Then continue driving to Arbaminch with a stop at Alaba and Dorze tribal villages en route. Dorze people are known for their weaving culture which is reflected in their beautiful cotton clothes,fences,and beehive shaped bamboo huts. You will also stop to visit Yirgalem coffee plantation. You will explore the farm and enjoy a tasting.
Meals included –B L D
Day 8 – Arbaminch: In the morning, enjoy a remarkable boat ride on the southernmost Rift Valley Lake of Ethiopia – Lake Chamo. A boat trip on Lake Chamo is among the best anywhere in Ethiopia. You will have the opportunity to spot many hippos and the world's most spectacular concentrations of Giant Crocodiles. This area is locally called the "Crocodile Market". The water birds are incredible here and the scenery is truly unforgettable. You will witness fishing for Nile Perch and many other species by locals on their traditional boat. Enjoy lunch at a local hotel. Their food is tasty, western food is popular here but the large menu makes this a good place to try some new Ethiopian foods.
Meals included –B L D
Day 9 – Arbaminch/ Konso: Today you will drive 80km to Konso and join a local family to witness the typical way of Konso cooking. You will also see some basic methods of preparing the traditional fermented beverages that are common in Konso. Spend some time with the local people learning of their unique culture and practices. You will also visit the Konso village which is recently registered as the 9th UNESCO World heritage site in Ethiopia. The Konso people are noted for their rock terracing and colourful hand- woven cotton clothes.
Meals included –B L D
Day 10 – Arbaminch/ Addis Ababa: Drive back to Arbaminch then fly back to Addis Ababa. The remainder of the day is yours at leisure.
Meals included –B L D
Day 11 – Addis Ababa: Today, you head to one of the best traditional Ethiopian restaurants of Addis for lunch where you will taste varieties of yummy Ethiopian meals from different reaches of the country. From here, you will attend a typical Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony where you will see the whole process of washing the beans, roasting them on an iron pan, pounding by hand, boiling and how it is served. In the Ethiopian culture, it is customary to put fresh cut grass on the ground, burn frankincense for its great smell, and let guests smell the smoke of the roasted coffee which is regarded as sign of their being welcoming host. Coffee is Ethiopia’s biggest export and it is the gift of Ethiopia to the World as it was originally discovered in the Keffa region of Ethiopia. Finally, stop at one of the ‘Tej Bets’ or Tej houses of Addis. Tej is traditionally brewed mead-like drink made from honey. It is then time to farewell your fellow travellers as you transfer to the airport for your onward flight.
Meals included –B L D
Travel Dates
Valid for travel 01 Oct 2020 - until 31 Dec 2023.
Terms & Conditions
Contact Journeys Rediscovered to register for our 2022 or 2023 Small Group Journey (no more than 8 passengers.) Journeys Rediscovered Small Group - Culinary Journey of Ethiopia, will run with a minimum of 6 passengers.
Alternatively, contact Journeys Rediscovered for pricing to suit your preferred departure dates as a private itinerary, which is guaranteed with a minimum of one person.
Land-based itinerary is based per person on twin/double share basis (unless otherwise stated), single supplement is available, contact Journey Rediscovered for this surcharge.
International & domestic airfares not listed are additional, please contact Journeys Rediscovered for international flight options and prices.
Travel insurance is strongly recommended and can be arranged for you for an additional cost.
For full pricing, terms and conditions, contact your MTA Travel Expert, Journeys Rediscovered on 0477002235 or journeysrediscovered@mtatravel.com.au
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